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by Christine Bongers

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Cracker of a read with kick-ass half-breed heroine Verity Fassbinder protecting the humans of Brisbane from the unseen Weyrd that dwell amongst us. Not sure if it's destined for cult or classic status, but it's smart, sassy and wickedly funny and I can't wait for the next in the triology.

Hooroo to the mulga country

It’s been more than 20 years since I stood on the banks of the Warrego.

Last time, I was in Charleville filming a documentary for Channel 7’s World Around Us series.

This time, I was there for the inaugural St Mary’s Writer’s Festival, with the wonderful Michael Gerard Bauer, Cunnamulla legend, Uncle Herb Wharton, and local writers and illustrators Michelle Sheehan, Donna Reynolds and Majella Stapleton.

Teacher-librarian Dominique Gardiner did a stellar job mustering the troops from Charleville, Cunnamulla and Quilpie. And oh my, the stories we shared…

Not sure which I enjoyed most, the enthusiasm of the western kids and their teachers, or the after-school tour of the sights with big kid, Michael Bauer.

Not that I’m one to tell tales out of school ….actually, scratch that, I am.

Thank the high heavens that Charleville’s streets were built wide enough for the full turning circle of a twelve-bullock train and a fully loaded wool dray….because Mike and I spent a goodly portion of Monday afternoon in a borrowed car (thanks Dom!), doing ‘U-ees’ up and down the main street.

For me, it brought back fond memories of my teen years in Biloela doing ‘blockies’ round the clock. For Mike, it was a desperate attempt to find our way around a small, totally flat town (population 3,500) , which was laid out in convenient grid. And I was no help at all…

Eventually we found our way to the Vortex Guns, used to shoot explosives into the clouds in 1902 in an attempt to make it rain. “Will Charleville be the laughing stock or the envy of the world?’ asked a breathless editorial in the Charleville Bugle.

Neither as it turned out: the Vortex Guns failed to make it rain, but the drought did break of its own accord shortly afterwards.

We toured the local courthouse courtesy of Magistrate Terry Gardiner, sat in the dock, and snuck into the judge’s chambers when he wasn’t there.

We met a man with an eclectus parrot, and were charmed by Uncle Ernie Adams’ stories and didgeridoo playing at Alfred Street’s historic home before we flew out.